Intelligent Listening Checklist
Example Checklist Analysis of Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven". Listen to the record (IOS Player), analyze it yourself using the Full Practice Checklist, then compare your analysis with this one. Remember, many answers are subjective (tempo, dynamics, etc.) so yours may differ from these.
RECORD INFORMATION
Song Title:
Performer(s):
Songwriter(s):
Release Date:
(Not necessarily the date of the recording)
Important and relevant background information:
Why did you choose this record to analyze:

STYLE
Style:
Most obvious Stylistic Idioms:

e.g. Loud Vocals and Guitar - Heavy Metal or Hard Rock; Percussion oriented - Dance; Lyrics spoken not sung - Rap; Certain type of beat- Hip Hop or House
Why did you pick your chosen style:
Any characteristic(s) of other styles:
Form
Analysis diagram:

(e.g. A B A B C A B B)
Type of Form: Verse-Chorus , 32-Bar Song , 12-Bar Blues , Giant A , Other
Record Ending: Fade out , Definite (Cold)
Melody
Number of phrases in each section: A B C D E

For Alternate Form analysis:
Number of phrases in each section: A B C D E

Fill in a box for each section of your record
Overall Melodic Movement: Step , Skip , Static
Overall Melodic Shape: (e.g. Smooth, Angular, etc.)
Melodic Range: High note , Low note       The Range is: Narrow , Medium , Wide
Notes found in the melody: Wholenote , Half note , Quarter note , Eighth note , Sixteenth note
Predominant Note: Wholenote , Half note , Quarter note , Eighth note , Sixteenth note
Melodic Rhythm: Fast , Moderate , Slow
Does the melody contain any melismas? Yes , No
Rhythm
Length of record:(e.g. 3:52)
Tempo: (e.g. Allegro, Adagio, etc.)
Is the tempo consistent: Yes , No . If it changes, where and how does it change:
Meter: (e.g. Duple, Triple, Quadruple, etc.)
Time Signature: (from sheet music, e.g. 4/4, 3/4)
Which instrument(s) is/are "keeping the beat":
Any repeating rhythmic patterns: (e.g. Drums, Bass, etc.)
Is there an obvious backbeat (accented 2nd and 4th beats)? Yes , No
Dynamics
Level: (e.g. piano, forte, etc.)
Are the dynamics consistent? Yes , No . If they change, where and how:
Texture
Type: (e.g. Monophonic, Polyphonic, Homophonic, etc.)
Is the texture consistent: Yes , No . If it changes, where and how:
Harmony
Harmonic Rhythm: Fast , Moderate , Slow
(i.e. How often do the chords change)
The record is primarily: consonant dissonant
Timbre and Vocals
What instruments and/or sounds do you hear:
What is/are the most important instrument(s):
Vocals (if applicable): (e.g. Male/Female, Group/Solo)
Vocal Quality: (e.g. Shouter, Singer, Squeaky, Raspy, etc.)
Any background vocals: Yes , No . If yes, what and where do they sing:
Lyrics (if applicable)
What is the song about:
Do the lyrics make sense: Yes , No
Conclusion (Your ideas and opinions)
Outstanding characteristic of the record: e.g. Vocals, Rhythm, etc.
Mood of the song:
Do you like the record. Explain why:
How does the song make you feel: